They reached the rows of crops and disappeared into them, stalks of corn moving past Alice’s vision in a blur.  They ran for a time.  Alice couldn’t tell how long.  Suddenly, however, the vampire’s stopped and looked around.

            “A plane,” said one of them. “And parachutes.”

            “Yes,” said another. “We should…”

            They heard another sound, a long, drawn out howl.  More howls quickly joined this howl, a pack of wolves singing to the moon.  The vampires hissed angrily.

            “That’s all we need,” said John as he held Alice in his arms. “Keep going, and split up.  Some of us should get away.”

            The vampires split up, and to Alice’s horror, each member of the Hayes family was carried in different directions, scattering through the corn.

            “No,” Alice moaned helplessly.

            Once again, Alice found herself moving quickly through the crops as her family disappeared.  In addition to the vampire carrying her, three vampires surrounded them.  They ran further into the field, gunshots firing in the distance and more howls sounding in the night.  Alice feared they would get away and still found it hard to think through the haze over her mind.

            And then something large started moving towards them, rustling the corn violently.  The vampires changed direction as something burst through, moving in a blur.  It grabbed one of the vampires, which shrieked as they vanished into the corn.  Whatever it was, it had been as big as a horse.

            That left two vampires in front of Alice as they ran as fast as they could.  They changed direction again as something rustled in the corn in front of them.  Several things seemed to be converging on their position, and the vampires pushed their speed to the limit.  Alice could see the far end of the cornfield in her vision, and the vampires sped towards it.

            Until something stepped out in front of them, swinging something that flashed in the moonlight.  Whatever this was, it moved as fast as the vampires and sliced the two before her in half.  Their two halves tumbled to the ground, spilling blood on the ground as the mist lifted from their bodies.

            Then John stopped and Alice got a look at this newcomer, though many of his features were hidden in the shadow of the crops.  He was tall with broad shoulders, and his arms were bare, revealing strong muscles.  He wore a bulletproof vest that even protected his neck and military style black pants.  His hair appeared to be either cut very short or shaved completely.  In his hand, he carried a gleaming cruciform sword, like something a medieval knight would wield.  Even through the pressure on her mind Alice had just enough clarity to find that strange.  Why was he using a sword?

            “Stand,” hissed John.

            The vampire let her down, and Alice found herself standing straight up as the vampire stood behind her and put his hand around her neck.  He squeezed tightly, threatening to break it.  Alice wanted to move more than ever but still felt an irresistible hold on her mind preventing her from disobeying the vampire’s word.

            “Let us go,” said the vampire. “Or I’ll kill her.”

            Three things burst from behind Alice and the vampire, three big things, but the stranger with a sword whistled, and whatever they were stopped in their tracks.  Even though the three things remained motionless, Alice could faintly hear the sound of growling.  Alice prayed silently, begging not to be taken by this creature and for her family to be saved.

            “Yes,” said John. “That’s it.  Call of your little pets and let us pass.”

            “So,” said the stranger in a deep, powerful voice. “You wish to die slowly then?”

            The vampire didn’t respond at first.  Alice stood there, keenly aware of the strong grip at her throat as she wondered what the stranger was doing.

            “Do you think I’m bluffing?” asked John.

            “Do you think I am?” asked the stranger. “What? Didn’t vampires warn you about me? I knew vampires were cruel, but I didn't know they were that cruel."

            “I know who you are,” said John. “And what you are.”

            “Then you should know what I do to cowards that hide behind human shields."

            “You won’t kill me," said John, glee dripping from his voice. "Not for the sake of this one.”

            “Won’t I?” asked the stranger. “If I let you go, this woman may live for a little while longer, but after feasting on her blood and warping her mind, you’ll either kill her anyway or turn her into a vampire.  Killing her now would be kinder.  Besides, even if I could guarantee that she’d live by letting you go, you would just take more victims.  One life for the countless lives you’ll take in the future is hardly a fair trade, now is it?”

            Mist rose from the vampire’s hand, revealing his leathery skin, and Alice feared what that meant.

            “No,” said John, shaking his head. “You won’t risk this one.  This one’s different.”

            “Maybe she is different for whatever reason,” said the stranger.  “I wouldn’t know, but it doesn’t matter.  I can’t let you escape.  That being said, I would prefer she live rather than die, so I’ll offer you the same choice I offer every other parasite who tries this.  Release her to fight me fairly, and your death will be quick.  Kill her, and I kill you as slowly and as painfully as possible, your pleas for mercy and screams of agony falling on deaf ears.  That’s what I do to cowards like you.  So fast or slow, it’s your choice.  Either way, you’re not leaving this place alive.”

            And then the stranger walked forward, slowly and deliberately, his sword gleaming in the moonlight even as his face remained shadowed.  Alice felt the vampire’s grip start to shake.  The vampire was trembling.  Alice asked herself if this was really it.  Would the vampire toss her away to save itself, or was she really about to die?

            “No,” hissed the vampire. “This one is different.  I’m telling you!  Don’t you recognize her?!  Don’t you recognize your own sister?!”

            Alice’s blood froze as her eyes grew wide in shock.  It couldn’t be.

            “A…Arthur?” she asked weakly.

            The other man didn’t even break his stride.

            “I gave you your choice, vampire,” said the stranger. “Now make it.”

            Closer and closer, the stranger came, and the vampire kept trembling as his grip tightened.  Alice’s mind was swimming with confusion.  Was this really Arthur?  Tears fell down her face, though whether or not they were from hope or terror, Alice herself didn’t know.

            Finally, the vampire hissed and threw Alice to the ground, pulling a long hunting knife from inside his tattered jacket.  Alice hit the ground as the vampire rushed forward, attacking the stranger in a blur.  As she lay there, Alice watched the vampire fight with his true form revealed, hissing and shrieking in rage.  Sparks flew in the night as the stranger’s sword collided with the knife.  They traded blows, moving faster than Alice could track.

            It was over in seconds, the stranger ramming his sword through the vampire’s heart.  The vampire convulsed, shrieking, his red eyes rolling into the back of his head as the stranger kicked him off the sword.  The vampire fell back as he turned back into a human.  He hit the ground, and his screaming ceased, the man going still.

            Alice felt herself slipping away as she lay on her side, her consciousness fading as the stranger turned to look her over.  Alice faintly heard more rustling in the cornfield as soldiers came up in black military uniforms, flashlights mounted on their rifles.  In the light of the flashlights, Alice finally got a look at the stranger’s face.

            The first thing she noticed was the tattoos.  This man had crosses tattooed all over his face, his shaved head, and his bare arms.  He had a strong jawline and an intense, cold stare.  As she looked into those cold, calculating eyes, Alice looked for any sign of her brother. If this really was Arthur, he was completely unrecognizable to her.

            “Arthur,” she whispered before everything went dark.